Disciple Bizarre!
Ch. 44 - Goodbye Saori

(Kihara Lullin POV)

Two weeks had passed since they came to this world. The longer I cringe the more they get used to living in this place. Their efforts and power to go home became increasingly invisible again. Between resignation, despair, or being at home in a new nirvana, I don't know what they're feeling.

Nana was no longer crying, she was getting along with the women here, learning to knit with them.

Rock started his apprenticeship at the cake shop.

Giana is familiar and seems to have a relationship with a man.

Keiko remains an artist.

Erza is adaptable.

Yurina remained attached to Erza.

I'm starting to feel like if they don't go home, everything will be fine.

Besides, I don't know how to get them back. If you enter here, you will be locked up for fifty years. That is the law in this world.

"Soori."

Amidst my daydreams while guarding the inn, someone called out.

"Ah yes, what is the Village Chief?"

The Village Chief was the one who brought me here fifty years ago. No one knows his real name. People just called him the Village Chief.

"You don't play with your friends?"

"Ah, can't, I have to keep watch here."

"You don't have to look after him. You know, there's no crime in the world?"

"Yes, it is, anyway. I'm on guard not because I have to, but just to pass the time."

"Why not go back to the other side? You're a school student, right?"

I immediately heard it.

"I don't deserve to go there anymore. I've made a lot of mess. I was embarrassed to see my friends again. Because of me, they have to be trapped in this world. I'm a really bad person."

I never thought they'd come after me to a place that wasn't even on the map. The bad guy who kidnapped them here, I want to rebuke him.

"I don't think so. They're not mad at you. They came here because they love you. You should be grateful to have friends like them."

What the Village Chief said was indeed true. During school, whether it was now or fifty years ago, I never really had any friends. I'm too shy and can only play shogi very hard to get them. My face is ordinary, my brain is not smart, my family is not rich, the chatter is not connected, there is nothing interesting about me that can make people want to be my friend. I only made friends with Shiori, Yamada, the senior in the shogi club, and the adults in college. That I can't even say friend, but just a fellow hobbyist. Only Shiori and Yamada were arguably familiar to me.

However, now, when I entered 1-F class, I felt my world change. They welcomed. Caring for me. Think of me as an equal friend. Especially Giana and Nana. Never before had I had a close friend like them, who even dared to look for me to the other side of the world.

I rarely talk to boys, but I'm not bothered, they always treat me well. Even with some female disciples I was not familiar, but I felt comfortable when I was near them. I've never felt this sensation before.

Is this what you call friends?

"Village Head. Can you bring them back to the outside world even if they haven't been fifty years old?"

I actually doubt that he can do it, because there are already many people here who are asking for it, but the Village Chief always replies that he cannot. I hope there are exceptions for them.

"Can, really."

"E-uh?! Really?!"

"Yes, but there are conditions."

"What's that?"

"You should return to the outside world with them, and you won't be able to return to this world again as payment. How's it?"

"agree! I agree!"

Without realizing it, I replied in agreement. I think if for them, I could sacrifice anything. They may look tough, but I know in their little hearts they all want to go home.

The village chief smiled.

"Thank God I kidnapped them here. That way, I can kick you out of here, Saori."

The village chief nodded. "You shouldn't be here, Saori. Your place is now in the outside world. You're happier when you're there."

I'm speechless. His words are right. Ever since I met them, I've been happier. There are so many things I want to do with them. Although I was silent, but I admired them all. Want to get familiar with them. Want to get to know closer. Want to spend time with them. There are many things in the outside world that I want to learn. I want to go to the shogi tournament. I want to eat at a fast food restaurant after school. I want to have a good boyfriend.

Maybe now is the time for me to shine. Maybe in this day and age I can live. Perhaps it was in this age that my true friends lived. Maybe in this age I can find the person I love more than Yamada.

I want to continue my life right now!

"Village Head! When can we all go home?!"

She smiles. "You sure you want to get out of here? Once you're out, you won't be able to come back. You will age and die like ordinary people. Well, you can still meet Ruri, anyway."

"I won't run away again! I don't want to throw away my friend just because of a small problem! My resolve is round now! I want to live in the outside world!"

The village chief stroked my head.

"I'll miss you, Saori. Be happy there."

Shortly after, I told my friends that they could go home to the outside world right now.

Their reaction was crazier than I thought. They immediately cried and gave thanks. They clenched their hands many times, lifted them into the air, and said "Yosha", "Yatta", "Yokatta", repeatedly.

I told them my real secret, about myself named Tsuruga Saori, about myself who lived here for fifty years, about myself who was a child in 1970.

"Eh?! You've been living here for 50 years?!"

"Your murmur means it should be 65?!"

They look so dumbfounded.

"Sorry to keep this a secret from you." I lowered my head.

Erza looked at me strangely.

"That means.. Are you my grandmother's age?"

"Y-yes. that's it."

Keiko hugged me from the side. "Erza, it's impolite to say that to women!"

"Eh. but it is. Do I have to call you Grandma from now on?"

"Dance!!!"

"Erza-hentai!!!"

Nana and Giana then hugged me after hitting Erza's head together.

"Lullin, I don't care what your past is. I don't care if you're 65, for me you're still my friend! You're still my Lullin!" Giana rubbed my back.

"I may be a child to you, but I want us to stay friends, Lullin!"

My adventure in the ghost village is finally over. The Village Chief turned to Hide briefly to apologize to them, and finally sent us together to the off-the-shelf stop. His good-bye words still ring in my ears.

"Goodbye, Saori."

After that, the news of the seven missing disciples had been discovered. We were approached by a mob for days, and asked where we were going for two weeks. We all agreed to keep the ghost village a secret, and said that we ourselves were unconscious.

There has been speculation in the media. Some think we were abducted by aliens, some think we got lost in isekai, some are right to guess about the ghost village, so the myth is back on the internet.

For the second time, clumsy and stammered, I explained to the classmate my true existence, as well as the truth about the ghost village. It was a form of apology from me for running away and worrying about everything. Of course this secret is just me telling Jui-sensei and the students of my class. No outsider knows.

After that, Akemi walked over. He extended a hand. Her rare smile, blooming for me.

"It's nice to meet you, Saori obaa-san."

***

Author's Note

This novel will be off until the Eid.